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Landlord Joseph S. Alaura could go back to jail if he doesn’t fix up his Columbus rental
properties, according to a timetable that court officials and city code-enforcement officers put
together.

Alaura signed an agreement last week that says he must meet deadlines in February, May, August
and October on 31 properties.

He already has been ordered to make emergency electrical repairs at a Midland Avenue house on
the Hilltop. And he must clear rubbish and debris from six properties, including the Midland Avenue
house, by Saturday.

“His first benchmark is Saturday. I’ll personally be going there to make sure those issues are
taken care of,” said Josh Harmon, chief environmental specialist for Franklin County Environmental
Court.

Alaura must secure chronically vacant properties and make occupied properties weather-tight by
Feb. 28, complete interior repairs to occupied units by May 31, complete exterior repairs for all
houses by Aug. 31 and complete interior repairs to chronically unoccupied structures by Oct.
31.

At least 20 of the 31 houses are occupied, Harmon said.

Geoff Phillips, who leads the Highland West Neighbors Association on the Hilltop, had one
question: “Does he have the money?”

Alaura, who lives in Morrow County, told officials that he can complete the repairs on time. “He
didn’t argue it,” Harmon said.

In October, Franklin County Environmental Judge Daniel S. Hawkins sent Alaura to jail for 60
days for ignoring orders to fix code violations.

Hawkins released him after 30 days on the condition that Alaura allow code officers to inspect
every house and hire a management company. Alaura was placed on probation for three years.

The landlord’s failures were documented in
The Dispatch’s “Legacy of Neglect” series in November, which is online at
Dispatch.com/neglect. Alaura was among about 100 repeat offenders who
The Dispatch found ignored orders to repair problem properties for so long that the city
filed civil or criminal charges against them.

Hawkins is scheduled to sentence Alaura in two more cases on Feb. 12; one involves code
violations at a house at 2015-2017 Fairmont Ave. on the Hilltop, the other a failure to comply with
notice of a violation at 115 Wisconsin Ave. in Franklinton.

Alaura already pleaded no contest in those cases and faces as many as 270 days in jail if he
doesn’t repair his properties according to the timetable, Harmon said.